Tuesday, April 3, 2012

"Light, Life and Perspective" Exhibition by Joel Tonks


Joel tells about his show: “I grew up amongst a family of artists, with my mother, father and grandfather all actively creating art throughout my childhood. It was perhaps these influences that taught me to find beauty and detail in ordinary places. Having grown up in Orange NSW, I was always inspired by the extreme changes in colour and climate of the surrounding landscape. I began painting at 14, mostly depicting these vibrant local landscapes.

In my recent artwork, I try to push the boundaries of traditional realism and depict narratives through unusual perspectives. Since moving to the coast to study, I have been fortunate enough to have a lot of free time to travel and go on adventures, with my artwork often becoming a reflection of my experiences. I don’t always seek ideas for artworks; rather they hit me all at once and won’t leave me alone until put them down.

Creating artworks is my way of expressing feelings and experiences that I cannot put to words. I don’t fully understand why I paint, but there’s something immensely satisfying about putting the final touches and standing back to see what you’ve created. The need to create art is best described by William Faulkner, as “An artist is a creature driven by demons. He doesn't know why they chose him and he's usually too busy to wonder why.”




Exhibition opens Friday 4 May at 6 pm - all welcome!

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